Tennis Australia takes significant step to promote sport

Canberra : Tennis Australia's attempt to promote the sport among Australia's indigenous population has taken a big step with the launch of an inaugural indigenous tennis carnival.

The details of the National Indigenous Tennis Carnival (NITC) were announced by 14-time Grand Slam champion Evonne Goolagong Cawley, Tennis Northern Territory chief executive Sam Gibson and 22-time Grand Slam doubles champion Todd Woodbridge on Monday, reports Xinhua news agency.

The carnival will be held at the Darwin International Tennis Centre between September 6 and 9 and is expected to attract thousands of visitors.

Cawley, who was prominent in the 1970s and 1980s, and Ashleigh Barty, currently ranked the 16th in the world, are the only two indigenous Australian tennis players to ever make the top 500 in the rankings.

The NITC hopes to "celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture by bringing together thousands of individuals and groups."

"Tennis Australia and the states will be working with indigenous youth all around the country to help create pathways and opportunities for these players which is exciting," Cawley said in a media release.

"I was the first Aboriginal to play in top level tournaments and it's great for me to see an increase in indigenous youth playing these days.

"This carnival will celebrate these kids and bring everyone from around the country together," Cawley said.